also lacked blue water capable ships , and ultimately did not lead to a change in australian naval policy . in 1907 prime minister alfred dea ##kin and cr ##es ##well , while attending the imperial conference in london , sought the british government ' s agreement to end the subsidy system and develop an australian navy . the admiralty rejected and resented the challenge , but suggested diplomatic ##ally that a small fleet of destroyers and submarines would be sufficient . dea ##kin was un ##im ##pressed , and in 1908 invited the american great white fleet to visit australia . this visit fired public enthusiasm for a modern navy and in part led to the order of two 700 @ - @ ton river @ -
also lacked blue water capable ships, and ultimately did not lead to a change in australian naval policy. in 1907 prime minister alfred deakin and creswell, while attending the imperial conference in london, sought the british government's agreement to end the subsidy system and develop an australian navy. the admiralty rejected and resented the challenge, but suggested diplomatically that a small fleet of destroyers and submarines would be sufficient. deakin was unimpressed, and in 1908 invited the american great white fleet to visit australia. this visit fired public enthusiasm for a modern navy and in part led to the order of two 700 @ - @ ton river @ -